SOUTH AMERICAN METATHERIANS FROM THE BEGINING OF THE NEOGENE (EARLY MIOCENE, COLHUEHUAPIAN LAND-MAMMAL AGE). MICROBIOTHERIA AND POLYDOLOPIMORPHIA

We review the taxonomy of two South American orders of Metatheria (Mammalia) of Colhuehuapian age (early Miocene): Microbiotheria and Polydolopimorphia. First, we comment and discuss on the cusp homologies of the upper and lower molars of the Argyrolagoidea (Polydolopimorphia). Second, we offer results of a phylogenetic analysis of the Microbiotheriidae (Microbiotheria). Third, we analyze all Colhuehuapian Microbiotheria and Polydolopimorphia known up to date: Order Microbiotheria, Family Microbiotheriidae: Pachybiotherium acclinum Ameghino, Pachybiotherium sp., Clenia minuscula Ameghino, Oligobiotherium divisum Ameghino, Eomicrobiotherium mykerum sp. nov., Microbiotherium sp., and Microbiotheriidae indet.; Order Polydolopimorphia, Suborder Bonapartheriiformes, Superfamily Argyrolagoidea, Family Argyrolagidae: Proargyrolagus argentinus sp. nov. and Anargyrolagus primus Carlini, Pascual and Goin; Family Patagoniidae: Patagonia peregrina Pascual and Carlini; Argyrolagoidea indet. Finally, we add knowledge on the Colhuehuapian Didelphoidea, describing an indeterminate species referable to this superfamily, and comment on the identity of Microbiotherium gutierrezi Simpson, recognizing the new combination Coona gutierrezi.